Bought for Revenge by Sarah Mallory Page B

and said in a robust tone, ‘If you are going to reinstate the lakeside drive, then a stone bridge would look very well here.’
    He replied absently, ‘Yes, I have always thought so.’
    She laughed. ‘Now I
know
you are teasing me, Mr Monserrat. You have but this minute seen this place.’
    He recovered quickly. ‘But I have studied the plans, and this point faces due west, into the sunset.’
    Come, Lucas, let us go down to the lake and watch the sunset from the bridge
.
    ‘Are you mentally landscaping the lake, sir? Perhaps you want to return it to its former glory. I am afraid that is not something I can help you with, since I have only seen it as a wilderness.’
    It took Lucas some time to realise she was talking to him. ‘I beg your pardon, I was…dreaming.’
    She waved aside his apology. ‘It is your home now, sir. Of course you want to take it all in.’
    He looked across to the boathouse. ‘I wonder if the boats are still there.’
    ‘No. My brother and I looked in once. Papa said he had them broken up because they were unsafe. But the oars were on the walls then and there were some old fishing rods upstairs…’
    ‘There were?’ His eager response caught her attention and he was quick to explain. ‘I mean, I am surprised that they should have been left there, that no one would have taken them away.’
    ‘From what I understand Mr Blackstone was very severe with trespassers and the local people learned to stay away from his land. After he died they said he had left a curse over it.’
    ‘More ghosts, Miss Havenham?’
    She gave a little shrug and a smile. He tested the bridge again.
    ‘What are you doing?’
    ‘The thick timbers spanning the inlet appear to be strong enough. I am going to have a look in the boathouse.’ He looked back to find her watching him, a wistful look in her eyes. ‘Will you come with me?’
    ‘The water is not deep here. I suppose the worst that can happen is we would get a ducking.’
    ‘Come along, then.’ He held out his hand. ‘Keep your weight over the main beams…that’s it.’
    Her fingers clung to his as she carefully followed him across the bridge. He wanted to tease her, to say something about having to trust him, but he did not want her to withdraw again. She was clearly aware of their situation, for she kept her eyes lowered and a delicate flush painted hercheeks. As soon as they reached the far bank she disengaged her hand and began to stride ahead of him.
    The boathouse was built out over the lake on the southern side of the bridge. The waterside opening yawned black as they approached, but when they drew closer they could see the water lapping gently against the stone walkways inside. The sturdy walls of the building were intact and a set of stone steps ran up the outside to the upper floor.
    The wooden door to the lower part of the building had long since parted from its hinges and lay almost hidden in the long grass. The double glass doors in the gable end over the boathouse entrance had fared better and were still in place.
    ‘I suppose that is where they would have fished from,’ remarked Belle, gazing up. ‘The iron railings across the opening would have prevented anyone from falling into the lake.’
    She put her foot on the first of the stone steps, but Lucas caught her arm.
    ‘No, let me go first. It may be dangerous.’
    She followed him. There was no handrail, but the steps were wide and caused her no problem. The old wooden door at the top of the steps was swollen and Lucas had to put his shoulder to itto push it open. He moved inside, carefully testing the boards as he went.
    ‘The floor here is in better condition than the bridge,’ he remarked.
    ‘The roof is still intact. That has protected it.’ Belle followed him into the room. ‘I haven’t been here since Edwin was alive. It must be ten years and it is just as we left it.’
    Belle looked around, remembering her excitement when they had found this miniature house with its